A 57-year-old man has been arrested and accused of pointing lasers at several aircraft flying in and out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Deer Valley Regional Airport in the past week, according to Phoenix Police Department.

Lam Tran was arrested Saturday and is facing a charge of felony endangerment, according to jail records and a police statement issued Monday.

The statement said several laser strikes targeting light aircraft were reported to police in the same area near the west Phoenix and Glendale city borders.

Phoenix police's Air Support Unit narrowed down a likely location where the lasers strikes were coming from and, with help from the Glendale Police Department, officers caught someone pointing a laser at a helicopter that was flying nearby.

According to the police statement, officers located Tran at his home and he admitted to his involvement in the laser strikes.

Lt. Paul Taylor, a Phoenix police spokesman, said by email that pointing lasers at aircraft is a dangerous activity.

"Lasers, when pointed at an aircraft, can illuminate an entire flight deck and blind pilots and crew," he said. "Interfering with the safe operation of an aircraft is extremely dangerous and can have dire consequences for the personnel on the plane and people on the ground. It is also a felony."

Laser strikes on aircraft have occurred with more frequency in recent months, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
There were more laser strikes reported in October (more than 5,300) than in all of 2014 (nearly 3,900).

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Why is it a big deal?

These laser strikes can endanger an aircraft because it can cause the pilot to be disoriented or even temporarily blinded, the FAA says. The distraction can be especially dangerous during such critical periods as takeoffs and landings. Some laser lights are powerful enough to cause permanent eye damage.

What kind of lasers are being used?

Handheld lasers are commonly used to highlight presentations, zero in on targets or even as a toy to play with pets.

All laser products that are manufactured, imported or sold within the United States and its territories are regulated by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA says that even the smallest lasers are capable of producing hazardous amounts of light. All handheld, battery-powered lasers have the potential to blind or permanently affect eyesight.

Most laser manufacturers limit the power of the laser light to 5 milliwatts or less. Larger models can burn skin and cause other serious damage.

How does it affect pilots?

Because laser strikes on aircraft are increasing, pilots have to be ready to recognize and deal with the threat.

Pilots can suffer distraction and temporary flash blindness. According to the FAA, many of these injuries can occur with the use of lower-powered lasers that are commonly available.

The Air Line Pilot Association has called for continuing research into countermeasures to block laser lights. These could include wearing special glasses to protect eyes. One difficulty, however, is that green laser lights can fall in the same visual spectrum as navigation and instrument lights as well as runway lights.

What are the penalties?

According to the FAA, aiming a laser at an aircraft creates a serious safety risk and violates federal law. In 2012, the association helped write the Modernization and Reform Act, which made purposefully pointing the beam of a laser at an aircraft a federal felony.

The FBI states that the crime of illegal laser distraction to an aircraft carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison as well as a $250,000 fine. The FAA can also impose a civil penalty of up to $11,000 on those held responsible for each violation.

The FBI told The New York Times in a recent article that "since 2004, there have been 162 arrests for laser interference with aviation across the country. Of those, 132 were prosecuted, 97 of them under federal jurisdiction with 87 people convicted"

Where can people go to report instances?

The FAA states that if you're a member of the public who witnessed someone aiming a laser at an aircraft, you can send an e-mail to laserreports@faa.gov to provide details.

FAA staff or specific law enforcement agencies may decide to contact you if additional information or clarification is needed.

As a passenger should I be worried?

According to the FAA, "No accidents have been attributed to the illumination of crew members by lasers, but given the sizable number of reports and debilitating effects that can accompany such events, the potential does exist. As more occurrences begin to unfold, the FAA and other agencies have set regulatory practices in place to ensure public safety."

The agency adds that steps to reduce the hazard may include "educating the public regarding the risks of lasers to aviation safety

and encouraging the reporting of malicious behavior, restricting the sale of certain laser devices to the general public, encouraging manufacturers to attach warning labels on laser devices that address aviation concerns, performing studies on the use of laser eye protection as an option in the aviation environment, and investigating the value of deploying laser detection and recording systems on civilian aircraft."

"While no single strategy may completely end this threat, the FAA will continue to examine and recommend ways to best protect aviation from this serious hazard."